Jailed Ex-teacher May Face New Sex Allegations

CRYSTAL LAKE — A former Crystal Lake teacher convicted of sexually abusing a female student allegedly encouraged the student and another girl to have sex, according to the student's attorney.

McHenry County Circuit Court Judge Michael Sullivan ruled on Friday that he would bar testimony of allegations involving the second girl but stayed that order three weeks to allow attorney Andrew Spiegel time to determine if he wants to provide that information.

The female student, identified only as Betty Doe, and her parents have filed civil lawsuit alleging that former North Junior High teacher William Saturday had sex with her in 1995 and 1996 when she was 13 and 14 years old. The incidents allegedly took place in Saturday's Crystal Lake home, in his car and at a construction site. The suit contends that Saturday encouraged Betty Doe to have sex with a second girl.

Named as defendants are Crystal Lake Community School District 47 and North Junior High Principal Dennis Rasmussen. Rasmussen is accused of knowing about the relationship between the girl and Saturday and doing nothing to stop it and not telling her parents.

Saturday, 39, pleaded guilty in September 1997 to charges of criminal sexual assault and child pornography and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Karen Howard, an attorney representing the school district, said that no information has been provided on who the second girl is. Howard wants to bar testimony relating to her, saying the school district is not responsible for what occurred between that girl, Saturday and Betty Doe.

"Our position is if they are going to make these allegations, we need to know the basis for them," Howard said.

Spiegel said he was not sure he wanted to release the girl's name and details of her relationship with Saturday and Betty Doe to protect her privacy.

"If we are allowed to present testimony, it will bolster our case, but we don't want to bolster it and harm someone's mental stability because of it," Spiegel said.